Middle Chester Exploration, Day 2

After an amazing canoe paddle from Rolph’s Wharf to Quaker Neck, the students met with Captain Andrew McCown on the skipjack Elsworth for dinner and stories to be told while anchored in the channel. They would sleep well that night on deck. The following day would require an early morning rise to go crabbing on the Mr. Louis, a rendezvous with Captain Dickie Manning Jr. and his son at their pound net just south of the Corsica, and a stroll along the shore examining the intertidal zone’s diverse wildlife.

The Delmarva Peninsula is well known for its beautiful rural working landscapes. Over the course of the next week students would spend time with farmers, academics, environmental watchdogs, lawyers and businessmen learning about how preserving the health of the land and the profitability of the farm are essential to a strong and thriving Chesapeake.

On October 19, students met with local riverkeepers and farmers to see their work first hand.

After our orientation to the Chesapeake Semester at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, a skipjack sail and 4 bushel of crabs, students visited Echo Hill Outdoor school for some trust and team building exercises.

Later, it was time for some music:“I wanna sail the Chester River,Lay back in the noon day sun.With my feet in the water and a national boh,Lordy, that’s what I call fun…”Chesapeake Scenes: “Chester River Song”

This, year students would get a personal glimpse of their own Chester River, starting from its head waters above Millington and going down towards its mouth, south of the Corsica. They learned of its history, its ecology, and the environmental issues that are predominant in the watershed.

The first leg of the trip was led by canoe guide, local historian, arrow-head collector extraordinaire, and Sultana Projects Inc.’s V.P. ,Chris Cerino, who took the group from Millington to Crumpton. The group was joined by: Professor of English and Humanities Co-chair for the Chesapeake Semester, Sean Meehan, and the Director of the Public Archaeology Lab at the Center for Environment and Society, Liz Seidel.